PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ben Barnes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Giampaolo Pietravallo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Barnes
vs
Pietravallo

195 cm
30
210 lbs
16 - 8 - 0

195 cm
33
210 lbs
13 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

The Knot
KAISER

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ben Barnes!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Giampaolo Pietravallo!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Arvi Lind and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barnes has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Pietravallo.
Pietravallo looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Barnes tries a head kick but it misses.
Pietravallo connects with a nice looking jab.
Barnes is looking to land body kicks.
Pietravallo lands a nice leg kick that just misses Barnes's sensitive parts.
Decent striking displayed by Barnes there.

Barnes lands a big head kick that sends Pietravallo tumbling to the mat! Barnes takes a step backwards and waves Pietravallo back to his feet - he wants the finish!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barnes wants to land a leg kick but Pietravallo is out of range.
Barnes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Pietravallo moves away.
Barnes takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Pietravallo lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes throws a solid leg kick but Pietravallo takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Barnes.
Barnes doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Barnes walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Pietravallo checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Giampaolo Pietravallo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Barnes. Pietravallo shrugs it off though.
Pietravallo shoots for a takedown but Barnes saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Pietravallo throws a low kick, looking for Barnes's leg but Barnes calmly moves out of range.
Pietravallo scores with a spinning back kick!
Pietravallo jabs at Barnes's body.
Pietravallo jabs Barnes right on the nose. Barnes blinks but takes it well.
Ben Barnes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Barnes on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Pietravallo. Pietravallo obviously looking to wear him down.
Barnes misses with a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pietravallo scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Pietravallo tries to work over Barnes's front leg with a kick but Barnes checks it.
Pietravallo has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Pietravallo moves out of range of the leg kick from Barnes.
Pietravallo waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Barnes.
Barnes is looking for a counter combo.
Pietravallo avoids the body shot from Barnes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pietravallo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barnes manages to avoid it.
Pietravallo throws a sloppy head kick and Barnes moves out of range easily.
Pietravallo scores with a crisp jab that stopped Barnes in his tracks.
Barnes tries to bum rush Pietravallo with a series of wild strikes but Pietravallo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Pietravallo stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Barnes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Barnes throws a sloppy head kick and Pietravallo moves out of range easily.
Pietravallo throws an overhand right that lands on Barnes's shoulder, as Barnes tries to avoid the shot.
Barnes quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Pietravallo scores with a kick to the body.
Pietravallo throws a head kick that misses.
Pietravallo throws a series of punches but Barnes avoids them all with ease.
Pietravallo thuds his shin into the meat of Barnes's side.
Pietravallo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
As Pietravallo backs away, Barnes returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Pietravallo pushes Barnes away with a front kick.
Pietravallo throws an overhand right that lands on Barnes's shoulder, as Barnes tries to avoid the shot.
Barnes appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes feints and then cracks Pietravallo's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Pietravallo down.
Barnes bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Pietravallo looks to land a left hand but Barnes moved out of range nicely.
Barnes appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Pietravallo throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Barnes on the side of the head.
Barnes fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Pietravallo is out of range.
Pietravallo drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Barnes defends it well.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pietravallo connects with a jab.
Pietravallo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Barnes walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Some bone on bone action there as Pietravallo checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Pietravallo scores with a sloppy right hand. Barnes should have avoided that one.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giampaolo Pietravallo dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Pietravallo tries a low kick but Barnes avoids it.
Barnes goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Pietravallo checks a leg kick.
Pietravallo checks a low kick from Barnes.
Barnes uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Pietravallo.
Barnes throws a sloppy head kick and Pietravallo moves out of range easily.
Pietravallo feints the counter takedown.
Pietravallo keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnes drops his hands momentarily and Pietravallo takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Pietravallo pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Barnes throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Barnes moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Barnes attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Barnes lands with a nice body kick.

Barnes moves into range and clinches up with Pietravallo.
Barnes throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Pietravallo blocks it with crossed arms.
Pietravallo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Pietravallo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Barnes unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Barnes tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Nice body punch from Barnes - that landed with a thud.
Pietravallo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Barnes tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Pietravallo lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Pietravallo can't get the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for Pietravallo.
Barnes lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Barnes tries to land a knee to the head but Pietravallo blocks with his arms.

Pietravallo is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Barnes can't fight it off and eventually Pietravallo manages to take the fight to the floor. Barnes looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pietravallo stands up over Barnes, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Pietravallo showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Barnes has control of Pietravallo's left arm, preventing Pietravallo from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pietravallo postures up.
Pietravallo looking to sit in guard and control but Barnes gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Pietravallo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barnes stops Pietravallo from standing up.
Barnes wants to control from the top but Pietravallo keeps moving.
Pietravallo is adopting a defensive guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Barnes trying to control the position from guard on top but Pietravallo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Barnes misses with a kick to the body.
Barnes checks a leg kick nicely.
Barnes ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Barnes looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Barnes misses with a kick to the body.
Pietravallo changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Barnes does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Pietravallo lands a nice shot that snaps Barnes's head back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ben Barnes will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Barnes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Pietravallo was well out of range. Poor timing from Barnes.
Pietravallo with the counter takedown but Barnes avoids it easily.
Giampaolo Pietravallo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Pietravallo cracks Barnes with a good jab.
Pietravallo fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Barnes.
Barnes connects with the punch.
Pietravallo swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Pietravallo misses the shot to the body.
As Pietravallo backs away, Barnes returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Pietravallo throws a nice inside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnes misses with a straight right.
An inside leg kick from Barnes misses.
Pietravallo connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Barnes's hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes tries to clinch there but Pietravallo circles away.
Barnes throws a body punch but Pietravallo moves out of range.
Pietravallo connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Barnes finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Pietravallo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Barnes.
Pietravallo misses with a body kick.
Barnes pivots, looking for a leg kick but Pietravallo is out of range and Barnes settles back down.
Pietravallo shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Barnes defends it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pietravallo thuds his shin into the meat of Barnes's side.
Barnes feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Pietravallo's calf.
Pietravallo connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Barnes throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Barnes wants to slow Pietravallo down by chopping away at his legs.
Barnes shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Pietravallo pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Barnes pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Barnes getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Barnes lands the left hand.
Barnes fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Pietravallo lands with a straight right. Barnes didn't see that one coming.
Pietravallo fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Barnes.
Pietravallo lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Good leg kick by Pietravallo there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Pietravallo dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Barnes. That did some damage!
Barnes is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
A nice inside leg kick there by Pietravallo. That's going to slow Barnes down.
Barnes pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
The fighters circle momentarily. Pietravallo darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pietravallo's jab looks to have found its range, popping Barnes under the eye.
Pietravallo looks to score with a jab to the body but Barnes is just out of range.
Pietravallo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Barnes takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Barnes fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Pietravallo has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
A shot to the liver by Pietravallo. Beautiful body shot.
Barnes throws a leg kick but Pietravallo sees it coming and moves out of range.
Pietravallo changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giampaolo Pietravallo really dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Barnes misses with a hook. Pietravallo ducked under it nicely.
Pietravallo drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Barnes defends it well.
Pietravallo feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Barnes's calf.
Barnes wants to slow Pietravallo down by chopping away at his legs.
Barnes wants to land a leg kick but Pietravallo is out of range.
Pietravallo feints the counter takedown.
Barnes moves out of range of the body kick.
Barnes will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Pietravallo throws a body kick that misses.
Barnes looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Barnes tries to land a leg kick but Pietravallo saw it coming and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A chopping leg kick lands by Barnes.
Barnes takes one on the button.
Pietravallo scores with a nice right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Pietravallo stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Barnes.
Pietravallo avoids the head kick by Barnes.
Pietravallo lands with a kick to the ribs.
Barnes misses with the combination.
Pietravallo feints the counter takedown.
Pietravallo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Barnes circles away.
Pietravallo connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Barnes momentarily.
Barnes tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Pietravallo.

Barnes clinches.
Pietravallo looking to slow down the pace here.
A short right from Pietravallo.
Pietravallo is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Barnes gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Barnes stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Barnes unloads a knee to the mid-section. Pietravallo lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Pietravallo is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barnes is looking to control Pietravallo's arms but Pietravallo gets an underhook and turns him. Now Barnes has his back to the cage.
Barnes utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Barnes connects with a knee to the head.
Pietravallo lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Barnes backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pietravallo breaks from the clinch.
Barnes throws a head kick that Pietravallo semi-blocks.
Barnes lands a nice hook to Pietravallo's body. Pietravallo takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Barnes checks a leg kick.
A head kick misses from Barnes.
Pietravallo drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Barnes defends it well.
Pietravallo misses with a low kick.
Barnes throws out a loose jab but Pietravallo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pietravallo is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Pietravallo moves out of range of the strikes.
Pietravallo stuns Barnes with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Barnes tries to work over Pietravallo's front leg with a kick but Pietravallo checks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes wants to land a leg kick but Pietravallo is out of range.
Barnes looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Pietravallo lands a lovely overhand right.
A jab from Pietravallo does it's job there.
Pietravallo lands a body shot.
Pietravallo blocks a head kick by Barnes.
Pietravallo scoring well with a low kick there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nice jab there from Pietravallo.
Pietravallo is looking to slow Barnes down with leg kicks.
Barnes has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Pietravallo finds it's way round the side to connect with Barnes's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Giampaolo Pietravallo will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Barnes ducks under a wild hook from Pietravallo.
Pietravallo lands with a hook. Barnes tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Pietravallo works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Pietravallo lands a jab to the nose.
Barnes is looking to score with low kicks.
Pietravallo listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Barnes stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Pietravallo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnes takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Pietravallo misses the shot to the body.
Barnes misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A clash of legs there as Pietravallo blocks the low kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Pietravallo.
Barnes misses the jab.
Barnes misses with an attempted mid kick.
Pietravallo goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Pietravallo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Barnes seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Pietravallo checks a leg kick.
Pietravallo avoids a kick to the body.
A big right from Pietravallo misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes checks the leg kick.
Pietravallo throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Barnes sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A bone on bone clash there as Pietravallo blocks the leg kick.
Pietravallo blocks a head kick by Barnes.
Pietravallo moves out of range of the leg kick from Barnes.
A jab from Pietravallo misses.
Pietravallo throws a leg kick but Barnes sees it coming and moves out of range.
Pietravallo tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Pietravallo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ben Barnes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes misses with a head kick.
Pietravallo throws a head kick that half lands.
Barnes attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Barnes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Pietravallo was well out of range. Poor timing from Barnes.
Barnes checks a leg kick.
Barnes half committed to a counter leg kick.
Pietravallo tries a low kick but Barnes avoids it.
Pietravallo throws a jab when Barnes was well out of range.
It looked like Barnes was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Pietravallo.
Pietravallo looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Barnes throws a counter high kick but Pietravallo was just alert enough to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Barnes misses

and Pietravallo counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Barnes utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Pietravallo trying to control but Barnes is working from the bottom.
Pietravallo showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Pietravallo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Pietravallo lands a couple of digs.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Barnes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Pietravallo trying to control but Barnes is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Giampaolo Pietravallo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Pietravallo has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 46:49
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 47:48
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 47:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Giampaolo Pietravallo! Giampaolo Pietravallo retains his light heavyweight title!